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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2017 13:47:11 GMT
Every year I get a little more bahumbugish. Kids are grown and out of the house. One is married. My husband does not help at all and I don't think he cares one way or the other. This year we are cruising the week after Thanksgiving so by the time we get back, it might be decorated two weeks at the most. I am wondering if this year I can just skip it. My only hold back is my 2 year old grand daughter. But again, she might see it 2 or 3 times at the most.
Have you ever just skipped the decorating? Did you survive? lol
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Post by AN on Nov 12, 2017 13:52:21 GMT
Yep! Or threw up the pre-lit tree but didn't decorate it. It's not worth doing if you don't enjoy it, and some years I just had too much else going on (moving, stress of settling MIL's estate, whatever).
However, since you sound on the fence, here's something you can do that is like insta-decoration and cheap and easy. Buy a big roll of wired holiday ribbon (avoid glitter, ask me how I know), and tie big bows around doors in your house. Just wrap that ribbon right around the whole door, they still shut fine, and tie a pretty bow. At the end of Christmas, cut it off the doors and toss it out.
$10, an hour, and your house looks very decorated with very little work!
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Post by gailoh on Nov 12, 2017 13:54:51 GMT
Kind of on the fence on it myself...just might put out a table top tree and just a few extra items this year...we have to change out carpet but won't get done til the beginning or spring...
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Post by anxiousmom on Nov 12, 2017 13:56:37 GMT
As I get older, yeah...I have cut WAYYYYYYY back. I decorate minimally now and frankly I am happier that way. Call me Scrooge, but damn it is a lot of work to decorate only to have a cat the size of a buffalo climb the Christmas tree and knock all that hard work down. These days I do a little table top tree and few other little things and call it good. It is the spirit that counts. And so far? Everyone has survived. We do a 'theme' every year (we, meaning me) and that is always fun. One year I did all natural Florida stuff and I think I am going to do that again this year. Makes it easy...walk outside, pick up stuff, put it out.  (baked orange slices garlands, sea glass and shells I have picked up over the years turned into ornaments, etc.) |
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Post by shamrock on Nov 12, 2017 13:58:49 GMT
I don't think I'm decorating this year. Our house is on the market. We're supposed to get our new house right around Christmas- if this one ever sells (PLEASE SELL!) I just don't have it in me to decorate this year.
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Post by KelleeM on Nov 12, 2017 13:58:57 GMT
Yup. The year my mom passed away. She passed at the beginning of April but her absolute love of Christmas and decorating kept at least 3 of the siblings from decorating. I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. The next year I went back to normal decorating and realized my mom probably would have felt really bad that we all took a year off. In your situation I would probably skip it.
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Post by Merge on Nov 12, 2017 14:10:32 GMT
As the kids have gotten older, I do less. We put up a tree and decorate it, but that's pretty much it. I used to go all out with garlands and wreaths and tablescapes and whatnot. The kids want to know why I don't put all that stuff out, but they're also not willing to help.  So mostly in boxes it stays. Likely even more so this year, since we don't get out for the holiday break until the 22nd and are leaving town on the 26th. Anything I don't get put up the weekend after Thanksgiving probably won't go up! |
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Post by Monica* on Nov 12, 2017 14:16:21 GMT
On years we travel to family for Christmas, I do minimal and no live tree. Over the years, I refined my style and tried to up the sophistication level. While there is slightly less, it's more carefully chosen and placed. I think my family enjoys it, but even if that they were indifferent, I would still do it because I enjoy it. I do it for me mostly because I love the beauty and glow.
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YooHoot
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Post by YooHoot on Nov 12, 2017 14:16:24 GMT
I decorate the main areas and only put out what I love. I'd put up a tree for sure, That's pretty minimal.
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Nov 12, 2017 14:25:02 GMT
I do very little for decorating now that DD is grown and not living here. They complain some, but won't help decorate. Even when they did help in years past, they were no where to be found when it came time to put it all away. Now I put a tabletop tinsel tree on the island, set out several of my manger scenes, throw the stockings & holders up on the bookcase and call it a day. Less work, less stress. Do what you feel like doing. You can always decorate again in the future if you try it and don't like it.
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Post by jennrs on Nov 12, 2017 14:26:41 GMT
I’ve never skipped it entirely but certainly put out less. I’m trying to do a tabletop tree this year and my daughter wants our regular big tree put up.
She has her own house now so she has no say here. Ha!
Ours is kept in the attic and it’s just a hassle to get it all down and put back. We are getting too old to be able to climb up there, too.
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Post by tinydogmafia on Nov 12, 2017 14:31:53 GMT
Have you ever just skipped the decorating? Did you survive? Yes. I lost my mom on Christmas 2008. It took several years before I could decorate again. About 3 years ago I put a tree up again. Little by little I have gone back to decorating a bit more every year. I did not feel guilty about it. It's a lot of work to put and take down. Now I put up what makes me happy. I put it up when I want to. (Thanksgiving weekend.) I take it down whenever I want to. (Sometime in January.) So yes, I survived, and you will too if you don't want to decorate. You do what best for YOU. And your holiday will be better for it, I promise! |
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georgiapea
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Post by georgiapea on Nov 12, 2017 14:51:21 GMT
Yes, and I always wished I had made the effort. This year is the first in our Florida house and I'll be decorating.
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moodyblue
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Post by moodyblue on Nov 12, 2017 14:56:49 GMT
I love Christmas decorations and I think our house looks awesome when decorated. The only year I did nothing was when we moved in here - on the 22nd of December 18 years ago. I had thought we might just put up the tree but when the movers brought that box in I directed them to put it in the basement. We were just too tired at that point to care.
But it's a lot of work and we have simplified things over the last few years, especially for outside. A lot of what we do is very simple - some Christmas arrangements that just need to be set out, baskets with greenery and large red ball ornaments, lighted garland on the stair and loft banister with red poinsettias. We stick mostly to red and white, with greenery, use lots of clear lights with some red in places, large red balls or red bead garland used in multiple places - a few simple recurring items that make it more cohesive, very seasonal, and fairly fast to put up and take down.
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kelly8875
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Post by kelly8875 on Nov 12, 2017 14:59:43 GMT
I think there will be years coming up that all I'll do it put up a tree. I used to decorate so much, but it was fun when the kids were little. I got a divorce and moved out a couple years ago, and am loving that I do less now. I didn't put anything out for fall this year, and am not mad at myself at all 😂
I'm not Scrooge at all about it, but less is more, and it feels good to do what I want, and not worry about expectations.
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Post by jennrs on Nov 12, 2017 15:03:39 GMT
I love Christmas decorations and I think our house looks awesome when decorated. The only year I did nothing was when we moved in here - on the 22nd of December 18 years ago. I had thought we might just put up the tree but when the movers brought that box in I directed them to put it in the basement. We were just too tired at that point to care. But it's a lot of work and we have simplified things over the last few years, especially for outside. A lot of what we do is very simple - some Christmas arrangements that just need to be set out, baskets with greenery and large red ball ornaments, lighted garland on the stair and loft banister with red poinsettias. We stick mostly to red and white, with greenery, use lots of clear lights with some red in places, large red balls or red bead garland used in multiple places - a few simple recurring items that make it more cohesive, very seasonal, and fairly fast to put up and take down. This sounds beautiful! |
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Post by malibou on Nov 12, 2017 15:46:29 GMT
I'm a chronic lame-o. Even when ds was a little guy, I sometimes just didn't bother. I'm the one that gets it all out, puts it up and then takes it all down. They (dh and ds) don't really seem to care. So if I didn't feel like it, I didn't do it. I have also pared way down. For the past three years, I haven't brought down the Christmas tree because it's too hard. So I improvised. First year I put up hooks on the wall and strung twine that I hung ornaments on. Second year I made a washi tape tree with washi ornaments. Last year I used a really big poinsettia with no ornaments. This year we had to cut down an old plum tree. Dh saved it for me and that crazy branchy thing will be our tree. I will get the ornaments out but probably not much else. After Christmas, we will cut this tree up for BBQ, as dh only bbqs over wood.
I have no family nearby, so decorating is just for the three of us. No pressure from them either.
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GiantsFan
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Post by GiantsFan on Nov 12, 2017 15:56:45 GMT
It's only DH and I here (no kids). In recent years I only decorate if we are hosting dinner and that is just the minimum amount I can get away with.
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Post by femalebusiness on Nov 12, 2017 16:00:32 GMT
I love the decorating. It is the taking down and putting away that I hate. I just don't do it any more. I have several beautiful floral displays and a couple of wreath that I put out and that is it. On January 1st I am never sorry That I didn't drag it all out.
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Post by supersoda on Nov 12, 2017 16:20:34 GMT
We end up traveling about every other year, and I cut the decorations way back when we'll be gone. I have a cute 3.5' pre-lit tree that I put up and toss on a few decorations--it takes about 10 minutes! I usually hang stockings too, but I will buy cheapies if I don't want to drag everything out of the attic.
When we're home, we always do a real tree, and I definitely don't want to leave a real tree in the house if we will be away. We also do exterior lights, but won't bother if we're away for the holidays.
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basketdiva
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Post by basketdiva on Nov 12, 2017 16:28:27 GMT
When were in rental property with most possessions in storage we only had poinsettas and that was fine. Having decorations up for 2 weeks is fine with us. I grew with never decorating until December 15th-my brother's birthday.
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Nanner
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Post by Nanner on Nov 12, 2017 16:31:47 GMT
Kids are grown, no grandchildren, but we still decorate. There was one year that we just put up a table top tree, and that was the first year we had our dog, because when we did put up the big one, he kept going after everything hanging from the boughs. He only did that the first year though, so we are back to full on decorating.
BUT, if I didn't feel like doing it, I just wouldn't, and that would be fine. You do what works for you!
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Post by 950nancy on Nov 12, 2017 16:42:02 GMT
We have four of us who do the decorating. We all have specific zones and jobs and we can get four trees up with the decorations in around five hours. If I skip two of the trees, three hours. If I had to do it myself, one tree, living room decorated and that would be it.
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Post by mrst on Nov 12, 2017 16:44:49 GMT
I was thinking about this today. We went away past year and I didn't really bother. This year I'm having a knee replacement on 27th November and I will be in the house lot more over Christmas. Do i do it before I go in? Or hope to do it after I come out? There's only dh and I , so should I not bother? I will see how busy I am the week before I go in to hospital.
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scrappyesq
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Post by scrappyesq on Nov 12, 2017 16:47:35 GMT
There was one year I didn't decorate. I think I had just failed the Bar for like the millionth time and since I wasn't working so cash was tight. I remember DH felt bad that we couldn't afford a tree but there wasn't anything we could do about that. I survived, and the following Christmas I had a job so I made up for skipping one year by buying and using every single bird decoration I could find. Bottom line: I survived and there was a slight twinge of relief when we both realized there was no tree stuff to clean up after Christmas.
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Post by femalebusiness on Nov 12, 2017 16:48:49 GMT
I hung a string of white icicle lights from a single ceiling hook in a dark corner of my living room and it is like a waterfall of white lights. I just take them out of the box and hang them on the hook. They hang from the ceiling to the ground. I did that four or five years ago and then just left them up. We turn them on every night and every year I change them out with a new set so they stay white and sparkly. I like them so well I hung a string in my bedroom too. They are not for Christmas any more they are there all year and beautiful.
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Post by pondrunner on Nov 12, 2017 16:51:11 GMT
I have had many years when Christmas felt like too much. I put up a tree every year but some years that's all, and some years I don't put all the ornaments on it. We love Christmas but we have had years where due to financial struggle or family needs we cut way way back and do only what we can. Last year we had a very serious illness in our family that demanded a lot of time and attention so we did very little decorating other than the tree. If I didn't have kids I wouldn't have done even that.
Our family tradition is to have the tree put away before the kids go back to school, we are not particularly dedicated to Christmas as a season so this is how we do things in our family.
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Post by cecilia on Nov 12, 2017 16:51:27 GMT
We didn't one year. I was 14. We were in the process of moving.
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Post by maryland on Nov 12, 2017 16:56:22 GMT
We always put up a tree, but I don't like too many decorations out because it looks so cluttered to me. We used to put the tree in the living room and it was nice! But my husband made the living room into his study, so now the tree goes in the family room which is a cluttered wall to wall furniture so it just adds to the clutter. I can't wait to take it down. Also, I am in the car for 63 hours for our many trips between Thanksgiving and Christmas so I am already crabby because of all the traveling! Believe it or not, I used to enjoy the holidays when I was a kid!
I love the Christmas movies, Christmas cookie making and all the other excitement. Just not the tree/deocrating and all the traveling.
I also will have jury duty this year (week of Dec. 11th) and I am not happy about that! I was called up the first day I was eligible (had jury duty last year, and after 18 months you can get called again and I did). So I will possibly be driving almost 2 hr. round trip each day for jury duty for however long the case is. But if it's a long one, I guess I won't be able to travel for Christmas.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2017 17:09:04 GMT
Every year I get a little more bahumbugish. Kids are grown and out of the house. One is married. My husband does not help at all and I don't think he cares one way or the other. This year we are cruising the week after Thanksgiving so by the time we get back, it might be decorated two weeks at the most. I am wondering if this year I can just skip it. My only hold back is my 2 year old grand daughter. But again, she might see it 2 or 3 times at the most. Have you ever just skipped the decorating? Did you survive? lol Yup, I have years I do absolutely NO decorating, years I go all out and years I do some. Even when the kids were smaller it was that way. There were years we would be gone to visit family for several weeks. It made no sense to me to unpack and repack our decorations without having time to enjoy them. Apparently I survived as I am still alive to make that choice again this year. Just do what works for you. Every year is a chance to make a different decision; or maybe not decorating will become the new tradition. As a 2 year old your granddaughter has no idea if Grandma's house should be decorated or not. When I was growing up my paternal grandparents only put out two Christmas decorations. One was a string of lights strung around their bedroom door (the door was in the living room. The outlet was right next to the door frame. Plug the lights in and lay them on top of the door frame. Done.) and the other was a 6' silver aluminum tree with about 2 dozen identical white balls and a color changing wheel. |
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So mostly in boxes it stays. Likely even more so this year, since we don't get out for the holiday break until the 22nd and are leaving town on the 26th. Anything I don't get put up the weekend after Thanksgiving probably won't go up!
